Blog

June 29, 2016April 24, 2018

New Colour Now Available for Transitions® Signature® VII Bifocal Lenses

Torrance, Calif., June 2016 – Transitions Signature Flat Top 28 polycarbonate composite lenses are now available in both gray and brown. This means even more bifocal wearers can enjoy the unsurpassed photochromic performance of Transitions Signature VII lenses.

Why is this expansion important for eye care practices? Transitions Signature brown is the colour of choice for many patients, both for fashion and to enhance contrast. This new lens provides an opportunity for eye care professionals to significantly heighten the satisfaction of patients who wear polycarbonate bifocals. Eight out of 10 patients prefer Transitions Signature lenses to clear lenses, and now eye care professionals don’t have to find another option when bifocal wearers request a Transitions brand lens. They can dispense authentic Transitions Signature lenses in a polycarbonate composite material.

Just how significant is the market for bifocal lenses? Approximately one in five pairs of lenses sold today are segmented multi-focals, and a majority of those are bifocals.

What is unique about this product? “Younger Optics and Transitions Optical have developed a polycarbonate composite lens that incorporates a thin photochromic front surface bifocal layer made of Trivex^®—resulting in a lens delivering Transitions Signature VII performance and superb segment cosmetics in a product that is surfaced, polished, edged and dispensed just like a clear polycarbonate lens,” said David Rips, president and CEO of Younger Optics.

Transitions Signature polycarbonate composite flat top 28 lenses are now available in both gray and brown exclusively from Younger Optics.

To read full press release, click HERE.

June 29, 2016April 24, 2018

Sanaz Malekeh is New Executive Director – Essilor Mission in Canada

MONTREAL, QC – Essilor Group in Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Sanaz Malekeh (formerly Sheila Bissonnette) to the position of Executive Director – Essilor Mission in Canada.

Essilor Group in Canada will enhance collaboration with eye care professionals, in order to create deeper advocacy and consumer awareness for the importance of vision health and eye protection. In her new role, Sanaz will assume the lead for Vision Impact Institute in Canada to establish advocacy and awareness for uncorrected refractive error (URE).

Our philanthropic outreach and activities will now be directed under Essilor Vision Foundation. Sanaz will act as Executive Director for the Vision Foundation of Canada, engaging network employees, partner organizations and our customers to make a meaningful and concerted effort in local communities by serving the most needy Canadian populations.

Sanaz’s expertise as Essilor Corporate Communications and Community Relations Director and her previous experience as the Executive Director of Canadian Coalition of Eye Care Professionals positions her as the ideal candidate for leading the group’s mission in Canada, through the acceleration of these four pillars.

The new role will report to Chief Strategic Officer for Canada and Essilor International Mission headquarters in Singapore.

For full press release, click HERE.

June 29, 2016April 24, 2018

Westgroupe Mixes Business with Pleasure

MONTREAL, QC – WestGroupe, a leader in the international eyewear industry, hosted its June Sales Meeting in Cancun, Mexico this year.

Following WestGroupe’s takeover of the US West coast in April of this year, this meeting was an opportunity to bring together 78 sales representatives from across North America to review the latest strategies and
market trends. The highlight of the meeting was the welcoming of 28 new sales reps into the WestGroupe family.

“These meetings are an opportunity to have all of our sales team together in one place and communicate valuable information to the entire group,” said Mike Debono, Executive Vice President of Global Sales. “This is
a more relaxed environment for the WestGroupe sales veterans and new team members to meet, share ideas and build relationships.”

June 27, 2016April 24, 2018

Silmo Academy 2016 Symposium Program

Here is the Silmo Academy symposium program that will be held September 24 to 26, 2016. Optik Magazine contributor Dr. Langis Michaud, from the University of Montreal School of Optometry, will be one of the lecturers during the symposium.

SESSION 1 – Saturday, September 24 – 10AM-1PM:
Reading and Reading Processes:
1. Symposium introduced by Pr. Yves Pouliquen, Member of the Académie Française
2. The ophthalmologist’s role by Pr. Christian Corbé, ophthalmologist
3. The neurological processes involved in reading by Pr. Laurent Cohen, neurologist
Break
4. How visual performance supports reading, the orthoptist’s point of view by Brigitte Ekpe, orthoptist
5. Reading from the optician’s perspective by Bruno Delhoste, optician
6. Measuring reading performance on digital devices by Dr Jean Luc Perrin (PhD), researcher
7. The Comédie Française (French National Theatre Company) and reading by Michel Favory, member of the Comédie Française

SESSION 2 – Sunday, September 25TH – 10AM-1PM:
Children and Reading:
1. Uncorrected refractive errors and their influence on educational success by Laurie A. Fitz, optician
2. Orthoptics/speech therapy, complementary treatments for children with learning difficulties at school by Chantal Savina Pernes, orthoptist and Annick David-Millot, speech therapist.
3. Visual skills and reading: saccadic ocular movements evaluated through DEM test by Dr Alessio Fachin (PhD) and Silvio Maffioletti
4. How are postural prisms used in the treatment of dyslexia? by N. Midol-Monnet, optician
Break
Adults and Reading:
1. Reading, visual problems and working life by Caroline Kovarski, (PhD) lecturer
2. Asthenopia and fixation disparity; their impact on near vision / reading by Olga Prenat, optician
3. How to identify the correction cylinder for near vision by Pr. Mo Jalie, lecturer
4. Corneal lenses and binocular vision: an aid to reading by Pr. Langis Michaud, lecturer

SESSION 3 – Momday, September 26 – 10AM-1PM:
Older People and Reading:
1. When reading vision deteriorates at the age of 45, what corneal lens options are available by Pr. Langis Michaud, lecturer
2. Off-axis performance of spectacle lenses in near vision by Pr. Mo Jalie, lecturer
3. Reading and visual impairments; a daily concern for orthoptists by Martine Routon, orthoptist
4. Significance of reading speed in low vision assessment and management by Prema Chande, lecturer
5. Sight impairment and the pleasure of reading by Dominique Martin, orthoptist and Charlotte Gaillard, optician
Break
Reading, a Public Health Challenge:
1. Overcoming the challenges facing a public health project by means of optical correction treatments by Pr. Serge Resnikoff, ophthalmologist
2. The effects of tablets, screens and smartphones on reading and their role in the development of myopia by Pr. Langis Michaud, lecturer
3. The history of progressive lenses by Jean Charles Leroux

Click here to register to the Scientific symposium.

June 27, 2016April 24, 2018

IRIS Group Consolidates Head Office in Laval, QC

In a letter to suppliers, IRIS –The Visual Group, advised of its decision to centralize all accounting and marketing services in the Laval, QC head office, in order to improve efficiency of operations. Both departments will be in place in Laval by end of September.

A regional office will be continued in Langley BC, with limited functions. The letter also bids adieu and pays tribute to the marketing, communication and accounting staff for their services.

Previously Reported: Dr. Chaiken Appointed CEO.